Leh, April 28 : A delegation of the All Contractors Association Kargil on Monday called for reserving government works valued below Rs 20 crore for Ladakh-based contractors, while also pressing for the clearance of pending dues, during a meeting with Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra at the Civil Secretariat here.
The delegation, led by its president Abdul Wahid, argued that restricting smaller-value tenders to holders of Ladakh Resident Certificates would enable greater local participation and provide a boost to the region’s economy, which remains closely tied to public sector works.
Alongside the demand for preferential allocation, the contractors drew attention to delays in payments for works executed under central and Union Territory schemes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, Special Development Package and capital expenditure programmes. They said that mounting liabilities had begun to strain contractors’ ability to sustain ongoing projects and meet operational costs.
Other members of the delegation included Ali Akbar Shah, Kacho Showkat Ali, Ali Mohammad and Mohd Ismail, who collectively emphasised the need for timely disbursement of funds to prevent disruption in project execution across Kargil district.
Responding to the concerns, the Chief Secretary said the administration was cognisant of the issues raised and assured that the demands would be examined on priority. He indicated that appropriate measures would be considered to address both the question of delayed payments and the broader issue of safeguarding local contractors’ interests.
The delegation later met Administrative Secretary, Public Works Department, Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary, reiterating their concerns. Officials said the department assured a time-bound review of the grievances, particularly those related to financial clearances.
The meeting assumes importance against the backdrop of Ladakh’s heavy reliance on government-funded infrastructure works, with contractors warning that prolonged payment delays could slow the pace of development. The delegation expressed hope that the administration’s assurances would translate into early action on both policy and financial fronts.
